Rescan for Hardware Changes with pnputil /scan-devices

Tell Windows to re-detect newly plugged hardware from the command line — the CLI equivalent of 'Scan for hardware changes' in Device Manager.

WindowssystemcmddriversLow risk

Run `pnputil /scan-devices` in an administrator terminal to make Windows rescan for new or changed devices.

01Command

Command

$ pnputil /scan-devices

02What it does

Sometimes a plugged-in device never shows up: a USB dock, an expansion card, or a virtual machine device that attached late. Device Manager has an 'Action > Scan for hardware changes' button, and pnputil /scan-devices does exactly the same from a terminal — it asks the plug-and-play manager to re-enumerate devices. It is also the quickest fix when Device Manager itself hangs.

03Risk

RiskLow risk

RequirementsRequires an administrator terminal.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

PnPUtil - Plug and Play Utility
SS64 · community · 2026-09-17
Evidence: Documents pnputil /scan-devices to trigger a rescan for plug and play device changes.
pnputil command syntax | Microsoft Learn
Microsoft · vendor-doc · 2026-09-17
Evidence: pnputil /scan-devices scans the computer for any device changes.

Last verified: 2026-09-19 · Category: System & Settings

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